Choosing the Right First-Choice Major

At UT Austin, students don’t just apply to the university—they apply directly to a major. This means admissions officers aren’t just looking for strong students; they’re looking for students who are a strong fit for their chosen major.

This year, we saw students succeed when they chose majors that aligned with their strengths, interests, and experiences. One student, for example, initially considered applying to the McCombs School of Business but realized her background in computer science coursework and internships made her a stronger candidate for Management Information Systems (MIS). By choosing a major that better matched her experiences, she was able to craft a compelling application that demonstrated her technical expertise and business acumen—a combination that stood out to UT’s admissions reviewers.

For students considering highly competitive majors like Business, Engineering, and Computer Science, selecting a major that truly fits their academic profile and extracurricular background can be a key factor in admissions decisions.

Building a Major-Aligned Academic Profile

Selecting the right major is just the first step—students also need to show academic readiness through rigorous coursework. UT Austin evaluates transcripts through the lens of a student’s first-choice major, meaning that students who challenge themselves in major-related AP, IB, or dual-credit courses have an advantage.

For example, students applying to Cockrell School of Engineering strengthened their applications by taking:
✅ AP Calculus AB/BC to show mathematical readiness
✅ AP Physics to demonstrate problem-solving skills
✅ Computer Science or Engineering electives to build technical expertise

Similarly, students applying to Health Sciences or Pre-Med tracks stood out when they had:
✅ AP Biology and AP Chemistry to establish a strong science foundation
✅ Anatomy & Physiology to reinforce their interest in healthcare
✅ Dual-credit or research-based science courses to deepen their knowledge

By taking coursework that aligned with their chosen major, these students showed admissions officers they were both prepared and passionate about their field of study.

Beyond the Classroom: The Extracurricular Edge

While strong grades and coursework are essential, UT Austin also looks at how students engage with their major outside of the classroom. Many of the students we worked with built impressive resumes with 3–4 major-related activities that demonstrated interest, initiative, and leadership.

Some standout examples from this year’s admitted students include:

🔹 A student applying to Computer Science who built mobile apps, competed in hackathons, and completed a summer research internship in AI.
🔹 A student applying to Business (Finance) who led a student investment club, completed an internship at a local bank, and launched a small e-commerce business.
🔹 A student applying to Biomedical Engineering who conducted independent research on medical device development, shadowed a biotech startup founder, and volunteered at a hospital.

These experiences helped applicants go beyond stating their interest in a major—they actively proved their passion and commitment to their field.

Telling a Cohesive Story in Essays & the Expanded Resume

With thousands of qualified applicants, UT Austin uses essays and the expanded resume to get a full picture of a student’s fit for their chosen major. Many of the students we worked with took full advantage of these sections to strengthen their application story.

🔹 Essays that Connected the Dots
Successful students wrote clear, compelling essays that tied together their coursework, extracurriculars, and personal experiences. One student applying to Psychology shared how her experience volunteering at a crisis hotline shaped her interest in mental health research, and how her AP Psychology coursework and research internship further deepened that passion. Her essay told a story—one that made it easy for UT admissions officers to see why she was a great fit for the major.

🔹 A Well-Structured Expanded Resume
UT Austin’s expanded resume is a rare opportunity for students to showcase all their relevant experiences in depth. Many successful applicants structured their resumes to highlight their most impressive, major-aligned activities first, ensuring admissions officers saw their strongest qualifications immediately.

For example, a student applying to Mechanical Engineering organized his resume like this:
1️⃣ Engineering-Related Activities (Robotics Club President, summer internship at an aerospace company)
2️⃣ STEM Competitions & Research (State finalist in Science Olympiad, independent engineering project)
3️⃣ Leadership & Community Engagement (STEM tutor, engineering outreach volunteer)

By prioritizing major-related activities, he ensured his resume told a cohesive story that reinforced his fit for Mechanical Engineering.

What Future UT Austin Applicants Can Learn

The students who earned admission to UT Austin this year didn’t just have strong academics—they built applications that clearly demonstrated their fit for their chosen major.

Here’s what future applicants can do to strengthen their own applications:

✅ Be intentional when choosing a first-choice major—align it with your strengths, interests, and experiences.
✅ Take rigorous coursework in your field—AP, IB, and dual-credit courses that match your major can strengthen your academic profile.
✅ Get involved in extracurriculars that support your major—internships, research, leadership roles, and competitions all help showcase your passion.
✅ Use your essays and expanded resume to tell a clear, compelling story—connect your experiences in a way that shows admissions officers why you’re a great fit for your field.



Applying to UT Austin is about more than just numbers. It’s about crafting an application that highlights your strengths, aligns with your major, and tells a compelling story. With the right approach, students can put themselves in the best position to earn a spot at UT Austin—and we’re here to help every step of the way.